February, 2022 | Everything Dinosaur Blog

8 02, 2022

Rebor Deinosuchus “Swamp” Video Showcase

By Mike|2022-10-23T18:38:23+01:00February 8th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have created another short YouTube video to highlight a prehistoric animal model that they stock. This time, it is the limited-edition Rebor Club Selection: Hatchling Deinosuchus in the swamp colour variant that has been put into the spotlight.

Highlighting Product Features

The product video showcase is designed to highlight features and show more detail. Whilst images provided by the manufacturer and indeed photographs taken by Everything Dinosaur team members do help, a short video can give potential purchasers an excellent view of the prehistoric animal figure and help them to make a more informed purchase decision.

The Rebor Club Selection: Meta the Hatchling Deinosuchus (swamp variant) video showcase, lasts a little over 40 seconds. The total number of models made in this series is stated along with the replica’s measurements. The unique number on the base of the model is highlighted along with the Rebor packaging.

Rebor Club Selection: Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus - the Swamp Variant — *The 2021 limited edition Rebor Club Selection: Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus polystone replica (swamp colour variant). A wonderful model of a hatching Deinosuchus.*

A Collectable Crocodile Figure

The Rebor Deinosuchus replica in the swamp colour variant is one of two versions available. The other version is the estuary version, which has already featured in an Everything Dinosaur product video showcase. Both limited-edition figures are highly collectable and when current stocks sell out, these models will not be put back into production.

As with the estuary colour variant, Everything Dinosaur will include a free Deinosuchus fact sheet with sales of this excellent figure from its website.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“This is the second Deinosuchus product video showcase, the YouTube video featuring the estuary variant was posted up a few days ago. Over the last few weeks, we have made a number of product video showcases that highlight Rebor models. Whilst we can’t put up videos of every single replica in the Rebor range we hope that the short videos that we have made provide customers with more information and allow them to appreciate the high level of detail associated with the Rebor range.”

To view the range of Rebor models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Models and Figures.

7 02, 2022

PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus

By Mike|2022-10-23T18:39:35+01:00February 7th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

PNSO will introduce a model of the fearsome Late Cretaceous Chinese tyrannosaur Zhuchengtyrannus in early spring. The PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus will be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in March (2022). Team members were aware of this tyrannosaur model going into production and arranged to delay the loading of their shipping container on the vessel leaving China until the new Zhuchengtyrannus figure was available from the factory.

*The PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus dinosaur model.*

Zhuchengtyrannus magnus

News of the discovery and scientific description of a new taxon of giant tyrannosaur from Asia (eastern China), began to appear in media outlets around the 1st of April 2011. The discovery of a giant, Late Cretaceous predator that may have rivalled Tyrannosaurus rex in size was thought by some to be an April Fool’s joke. A point alluded to in Everything Dinosaur’s blog post announcing the discovery: A New Tyrannosaur Taxon is Described.

PNSO Zhuchengtyrannus dinosaur model — *The new for 2022 PNSO Zhuchengtyrannus model.*

Zhuchengtyrannus Model Measurements

The PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus dinosaur model, pronounced “zoo-cheng-tie-ran-us” measures 28.5 cm in length and it stands 11.5 cm high. PNSO have introduced two other tyrannosaurs into their mid-size model range, both were launched in 2021. There is a replica of Tarbosaurus (Chuanzi the Tarbosaurus), which is thought by many palaeontologists to represent a sister taxon to Zhuchengtyrannus (Loewen et al, 2013) and a model of the controversial genus Nanotyrannus (N. lancensis).

Model Size Comparisons

PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus (2022) – length 28.5 cm and height 11.5 cm.
PNSO Chuanzi the Tarbosaurus (2021) – length 31 cm and height 11 cm.
PNSO Logan the Nanotyrannus (2021) – length 17 cm and height 6.5 cm.

*The PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus model measurements.*

Colour Posters, Booklet and a QR Code

The new for 2022 PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus replica is supplied with colour posters, a 64-page booklet and the packaging has a QR code on it that links to a short video that explains how the figure was developed.

PNSO Zhuchengtyrannus supplied with booklet and posters. — The new for 2022 PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus dinosaur model is supplied with colour posters, a 64-page information booklet and the packaging has a QR code that links to a short video that explains how the figure was developed.

Evidence of a Second Large Tyrannosaur from Shandong Province

The fossil material ascribed to Zhuchengtyrannus consists of a left dentary (lower jaw) and a nearly complete right maxilla (bone from the upper jaw). Both were found in a hadrosaur bonebed deposit. Calculating the size of this fearsome theropod has proved difficult, although it has been described as an apex predator.

Intriguingly, other tyrannosaur bones were found in the same bonebed. A lower jaw and a maxilla from suspected other tyrannosaurs (specimen numbers ZCDM V0030 and ZCDM V0032 respectively), were discovered. Both fossils differ from the equivalent material ascribed to Z. magnus and from all known tyrannosaurs. This suggests that at least one other large tyrannosaur was present in the palaeoenvironment.

The PNSO Zhuchengtyrannus model has been equipped with an articulated lower jaw.

PNSO Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus has an articulated lower jaw. — *The PNSO Lu Xiong Zhuchengtyrannus model has an articulated lower jaw.*

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that they were looking forward to the arrival of Lu Xiong the Zhuchengtyrannus dinosaur model and this figure should be in stock in March (2022).

To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs.

6 02, 2022

Rebor Deinosuchus “Estuary” Video Showcase

By Mike|2022-10-23T18:40:11+01:00February 6th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur team members have produced a short video highlighting the features of the Rebor Deinosuchus model in the estuary colour scheme. The brief video, which is up on the company’s popular YouTube channel has been created so that potential customers can get a really good look at this limited-edition figure.

A spokesperson for the UK-based mail order company confirmed that they were planning to make more product showcase videos and to post them up onto Everything Dinosaur’s website.

The Everything Dinosaur video showcase featuring the Rebor Club Selection: Meta the Hatchling Deinosuchus – the estuary colour variant.

Highlighting the Deinosuchus Model

The product video showcase features the limited-edition Rebor Club Selection: Meta the Hatchling Deinosuchus in the estuary colour scheme. The short video (it lasts a little over forty seconds), provides information on the number of replicas made, the model’s measurements and highlights the packaging as well as the unique product number located on the base of the Deinosuchus figure.

Rebor Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus model (Estuary Variant0 — The Rebor Club Selection: Meta the hatchling Deinosuchus is about to leave its egg! It’s very keen to get to the safety of the water. The Deinosuchus in the estuary colour scheme features in an Everything Dinosaur product showcase video.

Collecting Collectable Crocodilian Figures

The Rebor Deinosuchus replica in the estuary colour variant is one of two versions that have been manufactured. The other replica is the swamp version, which will feature in a forthcoming Everything Dinosaur product video showcase. Both limited-edition figures are highly collectable and when current stocks are sold, these models will not be put back into production.

The Rebor Club Selection Deinosuchus figures – the box contents. The limited-edition Estuary variant (right) and the limited-edition Swamp variant (left). Once current stocks are sold there are no plans to make any more of these crocodilian figures.

As with the swamp colour variant, Everything Dinosaur team members will include a free Deinosuchus fact sheet with sales of this excellent figure from the company’s website.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“This is the first Rebor Deinosuchus Club Selection product video showcase, the YouTube video featuring the other version, the swamp variant will be posted up onto Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel in a few days. Over the last few weeks, we have made several product video showcases that highlight Rebor models including the recently introduced Smilodon populator figures. Whilst we are unable to put up videos of every single item in the Rebor range we hope that the short videos that we have made provide customers with more information and allow them to appreciate the excellent quality of the models within this particular product portfolio.”

To view the range of Rebor models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Rebor Models and Figures.

5 02, 2022

Miocene Fish Skull Fossil Filled with Fossil Worm Poo

By Mike|2023-07-09T14:44:37+01:00February 5th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

The famous marine sediments of the Chesapeake Group, which outcrops across North Carolina, Delaware, Virginia and Maryland in the USA are regarded as some of the most extensively studied Cenozoic marine deposits in the world. The first fossil described from North America (Ecphora quadricostata) a marine snail which was scientifically described in 1685, comes from deposits associated with the Chesapeake Group (St Marys Formation)

A Miocene Fish Fossil

Many different types of fish and marine invertebrates have been named from fossils found at locations such as the Calvert Cliffs on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay (Maryland). Cetacean fossil material is also associated with these strata, along with sea cows and many seabirds such as gannets and fulmars. Marine turtles and the remains of land tortoises and freshwater crocodiles are also known.

A researcher from the Calvert Marine Museum (Maryland), is one of the authors of a recently published scientific paper that highlights a first for these Miocene-aged deposits. The partial skull of a fish has been found crammed full of tiny, fossil poo probably created by scavenging worms that once feasted on the head of the fish.

Invertebrate faecal matter in fossil fish braincase. — Photograph (left) of the partial skull of the Miocene Stargazer fish (ventral view). Some of the bone has broken away revealing hundreds of fossilised faecal pellets filling the braincase. A close-up view of the faecal matter (right). Picture credit: Calvert Marine Museum.

Stargazer Skull (Astroscopus spp.)

The specimen represents the first skull completely infilled with faecal pellets ever recorded, the fossil poo (micro-coprolite) is an example of the coprulid ichnospecies Coprulus oblongus. The pellets range in size from 1 mm to 5 mm in length and the skull comes from a Stargazer fish (Astroscopus), a genus of bottom living fish that bury themselves in soft sediment lying in wait to ambush small fish and invertebrates that come within striking distance.

Miocene coprolite fossil. — *A fossil of worm faecal pellets from Miocene-aged deposits from southern Maryland (USA). Each pellet is approximately 3 millimetres in length. Picture credit: Calvert Marine Museum*

Crocodile Coprolites Studied Too

Writing in the academic journal “Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia”, the researchers also describe a series of trace fossils found in preserved crocodile coprolite from the Miocene Calvert Formation. The fossil crocodile poo was tunnelled into, presumably evidence of the faeces being consumed (coprophagy). The scientists are unable to identify the organism(s) responsible for producing the burrows although the sides of the burrows preserve evidence of scratches which are thought to be feeding traces.

Crocodile coprolite fossil with feeding traces. — Crocodile coprolite broken open showing trace fossil burrows made by a coprophagous organism. Feeding gouge marks can be seen on the walls of the burrow. Length of crocodile coprolite 17.5 cm approximately. Picture credit: Calvert Marine Museum.

Whilst these remarkable fossils might not be as awe-inspiring as the whale bones that have been found in these rocks, they provide important evidence with regards to the recycling of nutrients from faecal matter in Miocene-aged marine environments.

The scientific paper: “Coprolites from the Calvert Cliffs: Miocene fecal pellets and burrowed crocodilian droppings from the Chesapeake Group of Maryland, USA” by Stephen J. Godfrey, Alberto Collareta and John R. Nance published in Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia.

4 02, 2022

Ice Age Animal Remains Found in Devon

By Mike|2023-07-09T14:39:08+01:00February 4th, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

The remains of several different types of Ice Age mammal that inhabited south-western England have been recovered from a cave in Devon. The fossils, which are estimated to be between 30,000 and 60,000 years old provide scientists with a unique perspective on the fauna that existed during the Devensian, or the Last Glacial Period (LGP). Although ice sheets did not reach south-western England, Devon would have experienced extreme cold, tundra-like conditions.

Animal remains found in the cave include the partial remains of a Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), bones from a Woolly Rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), the skeleton of a wolf, plus hyena, red fox, horse, reindeer and mountain hare fossils.

Ice Age Prehistoric Animal Remains found in Devon — *The jumbled-up bones of Ice Age animals found in a Devon cave. Picture credit: Historic England.*

An “Exceptional” Fossil Site

A substantial new town consisting of over 5,000 new houses and related infrastructure is being built close to Plymouth. The Sherford Consortium, the developers, state that the cave was located close to old lime kilns and Sherford Quarry. Commenting on the significance of the discovery, Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England stated that these fossils were “exceptional” and added:

“To have found partial remains of such a range of species here in Devon gives us a brilliant insight into the animals which roamed around Ice Age Britain thousands of years ago, as well as a better understanding of the environment and climate at the time.”

Mammoth Tusk from the Devon Cave — *Part of a mammoth tusk carefully being packed into a box for transport off the dig site. Picture credit: AC Archaeology.*

Ice Age Animal Remains

A team of experts have been brought in to carefully document and record the fossil finds. The fossils, including an exceptionally preserved lower jaw from a Woolly Rhinoceros (C. antiquitatis), are currently being studied. It is hoped that this collection of Ice Age remains will be able to stay in the county, with the most likely final destination for the fossils being “The Box”, a recently opened museum in Plymouth close to the University.

Woolly rhino jaw with dentition. — *A lower jaw from a Woolly Rhinoceros with some teeth in situ and two additional teeth. Picture credit: AC Archaeology.*

The Mammoth Gallery

Proposals have been made to put the fossils on permanent display in the Mammoth Gallery of The Box Museum. Plymouth’s former Museum and Art Gallery was re-opened as “The Box” in 2020 following extensive development and renovation. The Mammoth Gallery at the museum explores the natural history of Devon and includes many fossil specimens of the Ice Age fauna associated with south-western England.

The excavation and removal of the fragile fossils involved specialist archaeologists such as those from AC Archaeology, independent archaeological consultants and contractors who provide advice on historic environment issues to developers, local authorities and national bodies.

Woolly Mammoths. — *Woolly Mammoth fossils have been found in Devon (south-west England).*

3 02, 2022

PNSO Paul the Allosaurus Video Showcase

By Mike|2022-10-23T18:41:52+01:00February 3rd, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur team members have created a short, forty second video that highlights the PNSO Paul the Allosaurus dinosaur model. This replica of the Late Jurassic theropod Allosaurus has proved to be extremely popular amongst model collectors and dinosaur fans. Everything Dinosaur has set about creating short YouTube videos that are between thirty to sixty seconds in length that feature some of the prehistoric animal models that the UK-based company stocks.

The PNSO Paul the Allosaurus figure has been a top seller since it was introduced last year, so it was an obvious candidate for the company’s video showcase project.

Paul the Allosaurus dinosaur model from PNSO is featured in an Everything Dinosaur video showcase.

PNSO Paul the Allosaurus

Introduced in 2021, part of a substantial an enlargement of the PNSO not-to-scale mid-size model range, Paul the Allosaurus is also a firm favourite amongst Everything Dinosaur team members. The video showcase shows the figure on a turntable and demonstrates the articulated jaw. The packaging is shown and a team member holds the model so the size of the figure can be easily assessed. The model measurements (approximately 25 cm in length and around 9 cm in height), are also stated in the brief video.

Creating Videos to Help Customers

These short videos are designed to provide a “flavour” of the figure. The Everything Dinosaur website (and this blog), puts up lots of images of prehistoric animal models, but customers have requested videos and team members are busy compiling a library of short videos to provide customers with more information and to help them to make informed purchase decisions,

The new for 2021 PNSO Paul the Allosaurus dinosaur model has an articulated lower jaw, just like the majority of the theropod figures that PNSO have produced in the larger size model series. The recently created Everything Dinosaur Paul the Allosaurus highlights the articulated jaw on this dinosaur model.

To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models and figures available from Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Age of Dinosaurs Models and Figures.

2 02, 2022

Dino Dana Feathered T. rex in Stock

By Mike|2022-10-23T18:42:53+01:00February 2nd, 2022|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page|0 Comments

The Dino Dana feathered T. rex dinosaur model is in stock at Everything Dinosaur. This Safari Ltd model is from the hit Amazon TV show that features a nine-year-old girl that imagines prehistoric animals coming to life and interacting with her in the modern world.

Feathered T. rex Dinosaur Model (New Colour Scheme)

Safari Ltd produced a Tyrannosaurus rex model as part of a merchandising deal with the Amazon television show Dino Dana. It certainly has a striking colour scheme. It is a new colour variant of a feathered T. rex model first added to the Wild Safari Prehistoric range back in 2017.

Comparing two feathered T. rex dinosaur models. — *The two Safari Ltd Tyrannosaurus rex models compared. The 2017 feathered T. rex release (top) and the Dino Dana colour variant (below).*

Inspired by a Television Show

Dino Dana was created by Sinking Ship Entertainment, a Canadian production company and the first series aired in 2017, ironically the same year the Safari Ltd introduced its feathered T. rex figure (see above). A total of fifty-two episodes were created spanning four series. A feature-length film had been planned for a theatrical release in North America, but the COVID-19 curtailed these plans and the film version was made available via Prime Video. The series combines live action sequences with CGI animation and the prehistoric animals featured are extremely colourful with purple sauropods, pink hadrosaurs and blue stegosaurs.

Dino Dana Feathered T. rex dinosaur model. — *The Dino Dana T. rex dinosaur model shown in posterior view. In this view the bright colours and substantial stripes that run along the flank of the model down to the tail can be clearly seen.*

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that they were pleased to be able to bring this item into Europe, as this version of a feathered Tyrannosaurus rex had been requested by a lot of dinosaur fans and model collectors.

The figure includes a hang tag with a QR (quick response) code that can be scanned to enable collectors with the movie app on their phone to interact with the feathered dinosaur.

Dino Dana Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur model — *Dino Dana Feathered T. rex dinosaur model shown in anterior view. The model measures around 32 cm in length and the figure stands around 14.5 cm high.*

To view this new Safari Ltd feathered T. rex and the rest of the prehistoric animal models in this range: Safari Ltd Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

1 02, 2022

Dinosaur Tracksite Damaged

By Mike|2023-07-09T14:48:44+01:00February 1st, 2022|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

Reports emerged over the weekend that a hugely significant dinosaur tracksite near to Moab in Utah had been damaged by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contractors as they attempted to build a raised concrete and rail walkway at the site.

The Mill Canyon dinosaur tracksite was opened as a visitor attraction in 2016. The location features more than 200 dinosaur tracks representing at least 8 different types of dinosaur, a record of activity close to a water source some 112 million years ago (Albian faunal stage of the Early Cretaceous). Over the weekend, reports emerged on social media that a Bureau of Land Management project to replace the wooden boardwalk with a more robust structure had encountered problems. It has been alleged that a mechanical digger had driven over the exceptionally rare trace fossils and damaged as much of 30% of the site.

Mill Canyon tracksite. — *At least eight different types of dinosaur tracks have been deciphered at Moab (Utah). Picture credit: Bureau of Land Management.*

Cease and Desist

It has been reported in the media that the Center for Biological Diversity (based in Tucson, Arizona), sent a cease-and-desist letter to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Utah office, requiring the agency to halt the destruction with immediate effect.

Commenting on the alleged damage, Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin Director at the Center for Biological Diversity stated:

“I’m absolutely outraged that the BLM has apparently destroyed one of the world’s most important paleontological resources. This careless disregard for these irreplaceable traces of the past is appalling. It really calls into question the Bureau’s competence as a land-management agency.”

Trace fossil - crocodile tail drag. — The tail drag made by an ancient crocodile preserved in the Red Ruby mudstones of the Cedar Mountain Formation (Utah). Reports on social media suggest that a crocodile resting trace fossil has been damaged at the Mill Canyon site. Picture credit: Bureau of Land Management.

Dinosaur Tracksite Damaged

Last year, the Bureau of Land Management approved an environmental assessment to replace the existing boardwalk with a raised concrete-and-steel trail. The document explained that any risks to the dinosaur tracks would be mitigated by flagging sensitive areas and providing “onsite inspections during construction.” Photos shared on social media show a mechanical digger left on the site, tyre tracks damaging dinosaur prints and a rare crocodilian resting trace”.

The cease-and-desist letter documents the destruction of these rare artefacts and states that the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009 has been violated. Furthermore, the Bureau of Land Management may also be in breach of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act for neglecting to adhere to project approval protocols.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur expressed dismay at this development and went onto state:

“We have blogged about fossil thefts and vandalism to very important palaeontological sites, many of our posts relate to sites in Utah. It is extremely sad to have to write about this very unfortunate incident. Let’s hope that any damage that has occurred can be mitigated and this extremely significant trace fossil site continues to enjoy the protection that it deserves.”

To read Everything Dinosaur’s original post about the opening of the trackway to visitors: New Dinosaur Track Exhibit Opened.